TRENTON
- Division of Criminal Justice Director
Vaughn L. McKoy announced that an Essex
County man has pleaded guilty to receiving
stolen automobiles worth more than $75,000.

According to Insurance Fraud Prosecutor
Greta Gooden-Brown, Anthony C. Josephs,
27, of Norwood Street, Newark, pleaded
guilty before Essex County Superior Court
Judge Paul J. Vichness to a criminal Accusation
filed by the Division of Criminal Justice
- Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.
The Accusation charged Josephs with receiving
stolen property (2nd degree). When sentenced
on July 25, Josephs faces up to ten years
in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000.
Josephs may also face civil insurance
fraud fines pursuant to the Insurance
Fraud Prevention Act.

At the guilty plea hearing, Josephs admitted
that between December 2002 and January
2004, he received stolen cars including
a 2004 Cadillac Escalade and a 2000 Porsche
Boxter. The combine value of the stolen
cars was more than $75,000. An investigation
by the Division of Criminal Justice -
Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor determined
that Josephs and others would appear at
dealerships, test drive expensive cars,
and switch the real ignition key to the
cars with a fake key. Later, they would
return to the dealership and use the real
ignition key to steal the cars. Included
among the victims in this case is Gold
Cadillac in Oakhurst, Monmouth County.

State Investigators Jarek Pyrzanowski
and Jeffrey Lorman, and Deputy Attorney
General Marysol Rosero were assigned to
the investigation. DAG Rosero represented
the Division of Criminal Justice - Office
of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor at the guilty
plea hearing on April 20. Members of the
Livingston and Summit Police Departments
assisted in the investigation. The case
was referred to the Division
of Criminal Justice - Office
of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor by the
Summit Police Department.